Paris, London, or Rome? How to Choose and Plan Your Next Travel Destination

With 195 countries in the world spanning 7 different continents, how do you even know where you want to travel and how do you decide which destination you want to travel to next?

I’ve had a bucket list for as long as I can remember (I’ve written about previous bucket lists here).  I used to love to make lists of the different places I wanted to travel to someday.  Now that I’m living in “someday,” how do I decide which place I want to check off the list next?  Here are a few tips for deciding where to plan your next great adventure:

1. When do you want to go on this fabulous trip?  Deciding when you want to go somewhere can play a huge role in deciding where you go.  If you’re like me, most of your big trips will be when you have the most time off.  For me, that’s summer.  While not always ideal for beating the crowds, the heat, or getting the best deals, there are plenty of places around the world that have beautiful weather during the summer months.  But maybe you’ve always wanted to see Paris in the fall?  Or visit Tokyo in spring when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom?  Sometimes deciding when you’re free can help narrow down the list of deciding where.
2. International or Domestic?  After booking our trip to Spain and Portugal this past summer, my boyfriend and I decided as a way to go a little easier on the purse strings and save PTO (his busiest months are my months off), we’d alternate our “big” international trips for every other year.  I actually love this idea because it means taking a lot of smaller domestic trips in the intermittent years.  Pre-COVID we were planning a trip to Colorado in July (now postponed).  We’re currently working on a short trip to Baltimore in the fall, with a side trip to Gettysburg so I can run a half marathon there.  Knowing this is our year for domestic travel helps us decide on some fun places closer to home we’d like to visit.  While international travel is always adventurous and exciting, don’t overlook some amazing places that may be in your own country (or state).
3. What do you want to get out of your trip?  With so many different places to visit offering so many different things, take a moment to think about what you truly want to get out of your trip.  Are you planning a relaxing vacation with very little on the itinerary except a whole lotta nothing?  Choose a beach resort or a place known for its spas.  Needing some adventure and excitement?  Pick a location nothing like your own home to really push your limits.  If you’re more of the outdoors type in that you like drinking on patios with free wi-fi, a trip that requires ample time roughing it in the great outdoors probably isn’t for you.  Deciding what you truly want out of the experience can help you decide where you go to get the most out of that destination.

   

4. Is there a continent or region you’ve always wanted to explore but have yet do to so?  Maybe you’ve explored just about every corner of Europe, or at least all the corners you wanted to visit.  But maybe you’ve secretly always dreamed of going on an African safari or taking a river cruise in Southeast Asia.  Then do it!  There is no time like the present to go after your dream location.  I finally found the courage to travel to Asia for the first time in 2017 and I cannot believe it took me that long to explore Thailand, a country I’d dreamed of visiting since I was a little girl.  If there’s a place you’re dying to visit, make it happen.
5. Where does your work take you?  As a teacher, one of my favorite *secret* ways to get away with traveling in the middle of the school year is to find a conference I’m interested in and book the flights!  I have one in particular I try to make it to every year, and each year it’s in a different city around the United States.  I usually try to book my flights for a day or two before the conference and/or a day or two after the conference so I feel like I have some free time to explore whatever city I find myself in.  An added perk?  Some companies will even pay some of your travel expenses if the conference can count toward professional development hours or can benefit your employer in some way.

   

6. Seek advice from those who know best.  Do you have a travel blog you follow religiously?  Do a little digging to see if there’s a place your favorite travel blogger loved that sparks your interest.  Maybe you have that one friend who always seems to be jet-setting around the globe – ask them where you should go!  Don’t be afraid to ask around about people’s favorite travel destinations to see if one inspires you!
7. What do the flights say?  Check for really great flight deals during the time you’re wanting to travel.  Maybe you can find a super cheap deal on a place you’ve been dying to go but didn’t think you could afford.  Have some frequent flyer miles saved up?  See how far they can get you.  You might be surprised at what is available for you if you check at just the right time.  If you play your cards right, using points, miles, or deals can help secure that dream location.
8. Pick an event, not a destination.  Maybe you’ve always dreamed of going to an opera in Rome, a musical in the West End of London, or you’re a diehard Real Madrid fan.  Look up your favorite artist and see what cities they’re performing in on their next world tour.  Always wanted to visit an elephant sanctuary or crush grapes with your feet?  Why not plan a trip around an event, rather than simply the destination?  Traveling is all about the experience, right?  So plan the experience first, then decide on the destination.

   

9. Traveling with the taste buds.  As a self-proclaimed foodie, this is one of my personal favorite ways to travel.  One of my favorite things about visiting other places is enjoying the local cuisine.  Do you consider yourself a foodie, or just an adventurous eater who’s always said you’d try anything at least one?  Pick a particular dish or cuisine, then use that to guide your next travel destination.

   

10. And finally, sometimes it’s fun to just close your eyes, point your finger toward a map, and see where it lands!  Who knows what adventure awaits in a place you least expected? 

I hope this list helped you think of some creative ways to dream up your next vacation, and maybe inspired you just a little to go ahead and start planning!  Tell me below, how do you decide where to travel to next?